After the untimely death of her sister, Marianna Brownlee travels to Wyoming to collect her young nephew, now orphaned and alone. But he isn't as alone as she thought, nor does he want to return to Chicago with her.

Jackson Steed is a rancher with big dreams. Caring for his best friend's child until the arrival of his aunt has been all consuming, but nothing pleases Jack more. He truly loves the boy and is heartsick that he must let him go.

As a snowstorm rips through Wyoming, his business trip to Laramie is delayed. Stranded in a tiny cabin during a raging blizzard, Marianna and Jake find an attraction that's difficult to ignore, yet impossible to pursue. But it's the time waiting for the next stagecoach to come through that makes both see that compromises are always possible and love can truly find a way.